Patna, Jan. 1: Police have got new leads in the murder case of Lakhisarai-based RTI activist Ram Vilas Singh.

An agriculture department employee, Mritunjay Singh, has claimed that a senior officer had hired contract killers for the murder of the activist in daylight on December 8, 2011.

Mritunjay, posted as advisor to local farmers (kisan salahkar), was picked up for questioning on Saturday.

During interrogation, he told the police that Ram was murdered by contract killers because he had stepped up his campaign to reveal the irregularities in the agriculture department.

“Ram had approached the department to seek information with regard to disbursement of agriculture tools to the local farmers. Dissatisfied with the department’s reply, Ram had gone in appeal. The matter is pending before the state information commission,” an investigating officer quoted Mritunjay as saying.

The investigating officer, who did not wish to be identified, said the role of a senior officer of the agriculture department posted in Lakhisarai is being probed. “The role of the officer in question is under scanner of the investigating agency,” he said.

Mritunjay, a resident of Babhangama village, was taken into custody on the basis of the information given by Sanjiv Pandey, a non-FIR accused arrested from Nawada district, a few weeks ago.

Lakhisarai sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Rajbansh Singh confirmed the detention of Mritunjay but refused to divulge more information.

“This is a high-profile case and it will not be right to disclose anything at this stage. The only thing that I can say is that investigation is going on in the right direction,” the SDPO said.

With new facts coming to light, the police have decided to move cautiously.

Pandey had earlier told the interrogators that Ram’s murder was fallout of a dispute over panchayat elections held earlier this year. The deceased was also a member of the panchayat committee.

Pandey revealed that Ram had vehemently opposed the compromise reached between him (Pandey) and a complainant in a kidnapping case in which Pandey had been made an accused. “Though we tried to persuade Ram not to intervene, he refused to budge,” Pandey said.

He also disclosed the names — Roshan Singh and Dilkhush Singh — who allegedly opened fire at Ram, killing him on the spot. Roshan, a resident of Kaishar village in Jamui, fired at Ram to avenge the defeat of Rakesh’s wife in the panchayat election.

Ram, 59, a resident of Babhangama village under Lakhisarai block, was shot dead while attending the last rites of a villager on December 8, 2011. The deceased’s kin had named three persons — Rakesh Singh, Dilkhush Singh and Sanjay Pandey — as accused.

Sources said Rakesh’s wife had unsuccessfully contested the panchayat election in April 2011.

“Rakesh’s wife was pitted against Ram, who emerged victorious and was elected a member of the panchayat committee,” an investigating officer said.